Jarrett Jack still fond of Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jarrett Jack said he enjoys playing for Cleveland but won't soon forget how much fun he had with the Warriors last season during their surprising playoff run.

His stay at Golden State lasted one season after he arrived in a trade, and it was a year to remember as he hit big shots off the bench and emerged as a vocal leader on a team that overachieved. Jack landed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Cavaliers in the offseason and looks forward to reuniting with fans at Oracle Arena for Friday's game.

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 12: Jarrett Jack #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives the ball past Goran Dragic #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at US Airways Center on March 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Cavaliers defeated the Suns 110-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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"There's no way you can repay what those fans did for us all season," Jack said Thursday. "Those were the people that came and supported us. Good, bad or indifferent, they were there. They were that one staple that we could always count on. I'll always really appreciate those guys. Obviously, I didn't get to say my proper goodbyes, but I think they know how I feel about them and vice versa.

"It was just a fun time being that no one expected much from that team."

Jack averaged 12.9 points, 5.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds, stepping forward in the playoffs to average 17.2 points, 4.7 assists while making more than 50 percent of his field goals in those 12 games.

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Jack remains in contact with his former teammates and planned to have dinner with some of them in order to "forget that we're going to be enemies tomorrow."

"The relationships we built on that team last year, they were much deeper than basketball," Jack said. "We look at each other as friends, not co-workers, family to some degree."

Jack's numbers are down from last season while he's been playing alongside emerging star point guard Kyrie Irving and developing chemistry there as the Cavaliers are 15 games under .500. Jack said he considered Irving the most naturally talented young player he's played with.

That's no knock of course on Stephen Curry, who formed a strong bond with Jack. Jack said learning that Curry made the All-Star team this season "was a sigh of relief."

"Like if he didn't make it this year, I really was going to have to grab some people by the collar," Jack said.

Jack also had praise for coach Mark Jackson and his staff, general manager Bob Myers and co-owner Joe Lacob as he spoke of a "camaraderie" the team built while captivating the community.

He's still reminded of it while in Cleveland.

"I constantly get tweets from these fans just reminiscing about the times from last year and in the playoffs," Jack said. "I'm looking forward to seeing them."

Guard Klay Thompson will miss his first NBA game against Cleveland as he travels to the Bahamas to attend his paternal grandfather's funeral, and according to the team, Thompson's status for Sunday's game at Portland is undetermined.

Dewitt Thompson, the father of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, recently passed away in the Bahamas at age 94.

Thompson's streak of 214 consecutive games played to start his career is the longest in team history and eighth longest in NBA history.

Thompson, who averages 17.9 points per game, is tied for second in the NBA with 178 3-pointers this season.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the Clippers were waiting to hear from the NBA on whether it would take action against forward Blake Griffin and Warriors backup center Jermaine O'Neal. A squabble between the players began during Wednesday's game, a 111-98 Clippers win, and carried over after the game.

Friday's game

Cleveland (25-40) at Warriors (41-25), 7:30 p.m. CSNBA

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Jarrett Jack: "I didn't get to say my proper goodbyes (to the fans), but ... they know how I feel about them."